Motor compressor with external welding flange



June 15, 1965 M. CLAUSEN 3,189,257

MOTOR COMPRESSOR WITH EXTERNAL WELDING FLANGE Filed April 9, 1963 United States Patent Claims. (a. 230-58) This invention relates to a refrigeration unit and is more particularly concerned with a refrigeration unit of the type in which a hermetically-sealed casing or capsule encloses the motor compressor of a refrigeration system, the capsule being defined by two shells joined together along a welding flange projecting outwardly from the .shells.

Capsules constructed with a welding flange have the advantage that a hermetic connection between the. two shells can be achieved quickly and safely by means of an automatic welding machine. In addition, the shells can be separated,e.g. to repair the motor compressor, and later joined together along the welding flange. However, a disadvantage of this construction is that the flange projects beyond the outline of the capsule and therefore enlarges the overall dimensions of the capsule.

The space occupied in the cabinet of a refrigerator, or any other refrigeration appliance by the capsule which contains the motor compressor of a hermetically-sealed refrigeration system is space which is taken away from the storage compartment of the cabinet. It is, therefore, a goal of all manufacturers of such devices to keep this space, and consequently the dimensions of the capsule, as small as possible.

The motor compressor capsule is commonly disposed in a recess, readily accessible from the outside, in one of the walls, e.g. the back wall, of the refrigerator cabinet, usually at the bottom of the wall, e.g. at the junction of the rear wall and the bottom of the cabinet.

It is an object of this invention to provide a capsule with an external outwardly-projecting welding flange which has a smaller space requirement and thus permits an enlargement of thecooling compartment of the refrigerator cabinet, Without adversely affecting the internal volume of the capsule.

This and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a construction in which the welding flange does not project beyond the installation dimensions of the capsule'in at least two of the three main dimensions (length, width, height). The term installation dimensions designates the minimum height, width and depth of the right parallelepipedal space which will accommodate the body of the capsule apart from the flange. These installation dimensions are illustrated in the drawing by imaginary circumscribed rectangles. In conventional constructions an increase in the installation dimensions occurs because of the presence of the welding flange which conventionally exceeds the installation dimensions in two of the three main dimensions. When, however, the welding flange of the same width is shifted from its customary location, the portion of the welding rim which exceeds the installation dimensions in length, width or height can be reduced or totally eliminated.

In accordance with one embodiment, this is achieved by having the welding flange lie in a plane which is in cl-ined in at least two main directions. The well known circular welding machines are fully suitable for handling such as construction. The hollow recess in which a motor compressor capsule is normally installed in a refrigerator cabinet is rounded in many cases, to correspond with the shape of the capsule wall facing the refrigerator cabinet,

in order to enlarge the storage compartment with the cabinet. In this case, this invention can also provide a further reduction in the necessary installation space, and thereby an enlargement of the storage compartment by having the plane of the welding flange lie approximately in the diagonal plane which does not intercept the rounded wall of the installation recess;

In the case of a capsule with a primarily circular profile or cross-sectional outline, the plane of the flange can lie at an angle to the plane of the circular profile, i.e.it can extend vertically to the circular profile or extend along a diameter plane, or it can run diagnolly with respect to a circular cross-sectional plane and with respect to a plane which is vertical to the plane of the circular crosssection. By using the same basic principles, the electrical terminal boxwhich is mounted on the capsule or bulges in the capsule body which are provided to accommodate the radially-projecting cylinder of the compressor, can be positioned in corners of the circumscribedrectangles defining. the installation dimensions into which the weldingflange does not extend, in order that they also will not exceed the capsule installation dimensions in at least two main directions.

Further characteristics, objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a capsule in the form of a cylinder lying on its side; r 1

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the capsule of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a capsule having a cup form;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a capsule having an oval form;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the capsule of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 shows the capsule of FIG. -4 as seen from the left; l FIG. 7 shows the capsule of FIG. 4 as seen from the right; and it 1 FIG. 8 shows the capsule of FIGS. 47 installed in a refrigerator cabinet.

The cylindrical capsule shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.consists of an upper cup portion 1 and a lower portion 2 interconnected by the welding flange 3. Theedges 4 of the welding flange are completely inside the minimuminstallation dimensions of the capsule in all three of the main directions, viz, length, width and height, as indicated by the broken lines 5 which define circumscribed rectangles or, considered as a solid geometrical figure, a circumscribed right parallelepiped.

FIG. 3 shows a cup-shaped capsule of the type in which, in conventional constructions, the welding flange is located at the dotted plane 6, i.e. in circular cross-sectional plane. In accordance with the invention, however, the plane of the welding flange 7 is inclined with respect to the circular cross-section and extends diagonally with respect to the main profile of the capsule, i.e. the vertical cross-sectional plane. Since the welding flange plane thus lies obliquely with respect to the main directions of height and width, the edges 8 of the welding flange 7 lie inside the circumscribed rectangle 9, shown in broken lines, which defines the minimum installation dimensions. Another advantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that a cup-shaped casing can be formed from two shell-shaped cup halves 10 and 11. Heretofore, the welding flange 6 has exceeded the capsule in two main directions, but in the embodiment of this invention the edge 7 exceeds the capsule only in one direction (vertically to the drawing), so that the installation space is reduced substantially.

The oval capsule shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 comprises an upper half-shell 12 and a lower half-shell 13 which are joined together along the welding flange 14. The circumscribed rectangle 15, shown by broken lines, which encloses the capsule closely, identifies the installation dimensions for the capsule body which must be provided. The capsule has a primarily circular profile, and the plane of the welding flange 14- extends vertically to this profile and lies substantially in a diametrical plane. The edges 16 of the welding flange 14 do not exceed the installation dimensions corresponding to the height and width of the capsule. The installation space can, therefore, have the smallest possible size in two main directions or dimensions.

Other elements can be located lengthwise to the edge 17 not occupied by the welding flange 14 without excee ing the dimensions of the casing in the two main directions mentioned. Thus, there can be provided the electrical terminal box 18 as well as a bulge 19 which is provided to accommodate the cylinder of the motor compressor to be enclosed within the capsule. The intake pipe 29 is disposed in the upper capsule shell 12. If water should be condensed on the capsule surface, it will flow along the inclined welding flange 14, which will thus act as a gutter, to the lowermost point, and protection will thus be provided for the electrical equipment, regulators, and the like, inside the terminal box 18.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a capsule constructed in accordance with the invention in installed position in a refrigerator cabinet 21. The refrigerator cabinet stands on feet 22 on the floor 23, and the back wall 24 of the cabinet is spaced from the room wall 25 sufliciently that there is space for the condenser 26 and, as a result, there is provided a stack effect for the air-currents, as shown by the arrows. A recess 27 is provided to receive the capsule and the inner surface of the recess facing the storage compartment is curved to fit the capsule as shown at 28. The capsule can be suspended from supports 29.

The capsule can project beyond the back wall 24 of the refrigerator cabinet in conventional manner but it can be positioned even closer to the wall 25 by reason of the fact that the welding flange is inclined, and thus the installation space 27 of minimum depth and height is needed.

A further advantage of the construction of this invention with its inclined welding flange is that the cooling air flowing around the capsule, when entering the recess 27, will be divided and guided by the welding flange. The flange is not, therefore, an obstacle in the path of the cooling air. It is also possible, e.g. in the case of the oval capsule of FIGS. 4 to 7, to position the welding flange in such manner that the installation dimensions of the capsule are not exceeded in any of the three main direcions. In this construction the two ends of the welding flange of the oval capsule of FIGS. 4 to 7 which normally project are swung so that they are located in the corners of the circumscribed rectangle 15 which are diagonal to each other.

While the invention has thus been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modications in addition to those above mentioned may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will further be understood that, insofar as they are not mutually incompatible, the various features and details of construction of the several embodiments shown and described are interchangeable with one another. It is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description and in the drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

Reference is made to the application of Bendt Wegge Larson, Serial No. 271,800, filed April 9, 1963, and entitled Motor Compressor Capsule with Electrical Terminal Box, being filed concurrently herewith.

I claim:

1. A hermetic motor compressor capsule comprising, two mating shells having arcuate surfaces defining a body having an outwardly projecting flange joining the two shells, said capsule being circumscribable in an imaginary parallelepiped figure defined by intersecting planes tangential to the surfaces of said capsule other than said flange and said flange being disposed inclined relative to said intersecting planes, whereby said capsule including said flange occupies a minimum space.

2. A hermetic motor compressor capsule according to claim .1, in which said flange is disposed in a plane extending diagonally in said parallelepiped figure.

3. A hermetic motor compressor capsule according to claim 1, in which said flange is disposed in a diametrical plane passing through said capsule.

4. A hermetic motor compressor according to claim 1, in which said flange is disposed in a plane passing through said capsule and inclined relative to the horizontal.

5. A hermetic motor compressor according to claim 4, in which one of said shells has a conduit connected thereto.

References ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/59 La Flame 23058 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT M. WALKER, Examiner. 

1. A HERMETIC MOTOR COMPRESSOR CAPSULE COMPRISING, TWO MATTING SHELLS HAVING ARCUATE SURFACES DEFINING A BODY HAVING AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE JOINING THE TWO SHELLS, SAID CAPSULE BEING CIRCUMSCRIBABLE IN AN IMAGINARY PARALLELEPIPED FIGURE DEDINE BY INTERSECTING PLANES INGENTIAL TO THE SURFACES OF SAID CAPSULE OTHER THAN SAID FLANGE AND SAID FLANGE BEING DISPOSED INCLINED RELATIVE TO SAID INTERSECTING PLANES, WHEREBY SAID CAPSULE INCLUDING SAID FLANGE OCCUPIES A MINIMUM SPACE. 